General Discussion -   God changing His mind (26 views) Subscribe   
  From:  voiceinthewi   12/14/2004 4:28 pm  
To:  ALL   (1 of 8)  
 
  926.1  
 
Hi,

What are your thoughts re: the subject?
 
  
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  From:  Bob (hioo)   12/14/2004 4:34 pm  
To:  voiceinthewi   (2 of 8)  
 
  926.2 in reply to 926.1  
 
God HAS been known to change His mind. He was all set to wipe out Nineveh, but changed His mind on that. He was all set to totally wipe out Sodom and Gommorah on the spot, but waited. 

He became so disgusted with humankind, that He ALMOST wiped us out a long time ago. He was that disgusted with the way people turned out. And it looks like people are headed down that path again. They just never learn.


Born once; Die twice
Born twice; Die once 
  
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  From:  voiceinthewi   12/14/2004 6:39 pm  
To:  Bob (hioo)   (3 of 8)  
 
  926.3 in reply to 926.2  
 
Hey Bob,

Was it really His intention to wipe out Ninevah? Sodom and Ghommrah? etc?

When I think of such clear examples such as you have pointed out, I compare them to the nature and character and attributes of God. God is in the scriptures pictured as oniscient, that is He knows EVERYTHING, and because he is also Infinite, His knowing is also infinite. If we agree here so far, it becomes difficult them for me to justify how such an all-knowing God would change His mind. He knowing everything, would definitely choose the best choice in any given circumstance.

Situations in which it seems He has indeed changed His mind, could also be seen as during the judgement declaration, God was looking for the man of the hour (Jonah or Abraham in your examples) to step up to the plate and intercede for the people. In effect drawing them in to participate in Gods showing mercy, by virtue of thier prayers which of course were Holy Spirit inspired, and totally in the will of God.

God in effect found faithful men who would do the work of intercession, which prefigures the greater work of intercession of the Lord Jesus. God changed the circumstances and attitudes of certain faithful men, which I believe was the plan all along.

Voiceinthewilderness
 
  
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  From:  Bob (hioo)   12/15/2004 7:40 am  
To:  voiceinthewi   (4 of 8)  
 
  926.4 in reply to 926.3  
 
You are building a "straw dog" here. You are trying to change the subject from "God changing His mind" to "His sovereign traits". Scripture says that He fully intended to destroy Nineveh, but was held back from it (by His sovereign restraints) when the people of Nineveh repented of their sin. This in no way mitigates His intention of following thru with His decision, but rather demonstrates His magnificent mercy by NOT destroying when He very well could have, regardless of what the people did. 

It is something like holding an armed weapon on someone who richly deserves to be shot, but you don't. Many times it takes more courage NOT to do the "right" thing than it does to do something else.


Born once; Die twice
Born twice; Die once 
  
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  From:  inhiskingdom   12/15/2004 8:53 am  
To:  voiceinthewi   (5 of 8)  
 
  926.5 in reply to 926.3  
 
Hi.

Even though our Father knows what will happen, the people have to have a word from Him to be able to repent or to change the way they have done, so the word from Jonah, was truth at the time, if the people would not have repented, but since they did, God did not have to destroy the city, whether this is known as *changing His mind* or the people changing their ways BY the prophesying, so the will of our Father would be done can be argued. The same is truth today, when we receive a prophecy and when the ones that the word is intended for, change, the prophecy will seem to fail but what it was intended for was accomplished. Renewing them to the Father.

In His Love
Norb

 
  
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  From:  voiceinthewi   12/15/2004 3:13 pm  
To:  Bob (hioo)   (6 of 8)  
 
  926.6 in reply to 926.4  
 
Hi Bob,

Actually, I was only trying to maintain the integrity of another thread topic, in which this was brought up, not create a "straw man".

I however do not see how God could change His mind. When I think of changing of one's mind, I think of the change being percipitated by some new information, some new perspective, some new behavior. In God, there is nothing new. He is and always has been ALL, there is no way to add to Him, nothing He lacks. What could possibly "change His mind"? 

Just my thoughts,
Voiceinthewilderness
 
  
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  From:  Bob (hioo)   12/15/2004 4:28 pm  
To:  voiceinthewi   (7 of 8)  
 
  926.7 in reply to 926.6  
 
What better mind to install a change than a perfect mind with a perfect change? You are falling into the trap that the Lord doesn't wish to involve people in His doings. That is simply not true. He does want to involve us, very much, but it has to be on His terms. One day we will understand all this and till such time, we will just have to "deal" with the Lord on His terms. We will have to do that anyway, so may as well do it now and get used to it. 

God installed this scripture in the bible to assure us that He IS willing to change His mind....with the right type of impetus. And why not? Would you like to change your mind based only on a whim? This willingness on His part to show us He is willing to change His mind, makes Him more approachable by us because He is demonstrating a willingness to allow us to do so. 

An "unapproachable and unchanging" God I am afraid would NOT encourage adoring, worshippers as He would like.


Born once; Die twice
Born twice; Die once 
  
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   From:  Regalitto   12/15/2004 4:53 pm  
To:  Bob (hioo)   (8 of 8)  
 
  926.8 in reply to 926.7  
 
Hey Bob,

You wrote "You are falling into the trap that the Lord doesn't wish to involve people in His doings. That is simply not true. He does want to involve us, very much, but it has to "

I would refer you to what I already wrote a few posts ago, which IMHO clearly shows my agreement with your statement regarding God wanting our involvement.

"Situations in which it seems He has indeed changed His mind, could also be seen as during the judgement declaration, God was looking for the man of the hour (Jonah or Abraham in your examples) to step up to the plate and intercede for the people. In effect drawing them in to participate in Gods showing mercy, by virtue of thier prayers which of course were Holy Spirit inspired, and totally in the will of God.

God in effect found faithful men who would do the work of intercession, which prefigures the greater work of intercession of the Lord Jesus. God changed the circumstances and attitudes of certain faithful men, which I believe was the plan all along."

Voiceinthewilderness

 
  
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